Safety signal light for street cars



SAFETY SIGNAL LIGHT FOR STREET CARS Filed Oct. 30. 1929 &

INVENTOR Patented Dec. 30, 1930 ASHLEY G. HALE, OF WEST GROTON,MASSACHUSETTS SAFETY SIGNAL LIGHT FOR STREET CARS Application filedOctober 30, ,1929. Serial No. 403,628.

This invention relates to safety signals for street railway cars andmore particularly to a signal system which will operate automatically toindicate the fact that the motorman of the car is about to stop.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means wherebythe admission of any appreciable air into the air brake cylinder willefiect the display of danger signals at the front and rear ends of thecar so as to warn the drivers of on-coming and following automobiles,pedestrians, and others that the car is about to stop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system which will becertain and efficient in its operation and entirely automatic.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andspecifioally pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Thefigure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of the systemembodying the invention.

In the drawing the brake cylinder of the compressed air brake line isindicated by the numeral 1, and the usual brake control lever isindicated by the numeral 2, it being understood of course that thepiping of the system is duplicated at each end of the car. Thecompressed air tank of the system is indicated by the numeral 3 and theair compressor by the numeral 4. The regulator for the air compressor isindicated by the numeral 5 and these units 3, 1 and 5 are connected bythe usual piping system so that when the control lever 2 is operated,air will be admitted into the brake cylinder from the air tank 3. Thenumeral 6 indicated a pressure regulator of V a well known type, namelythe Cutler-Hammer pressure regulator, type C, catalogue No. 10001H3,which is preferable for use in this system, and air is transmitted tothe regulator by a pipe 7 leading from and connected with the pipe 8,which is connected with the brake cylinder, so that when air is admittedunder pressure, in any quantity, whatsoever, to the brake cylinder 1, itwill be equally admitted to the pressure regulator 6, through the usualvalve 7 v V The numeral 9 indicates a switch which is interposed in aconductor wire 10 connected with the main feed wire for the motors, andwhich wire leads from the trolley and a con ductor wire 12 also leadsfromthe wirelO to the regulator'for airv control and the switch 13 isinterposed in this wire. Wires 14 lead from the control 5 to the aircontrol terminal in the air compressor 4:, and the usual conductor pipe15 leads from the air tank to the compressor regulator 5.

A conductor wire 16 leads from the pres sure control unit 6 and in thiswire are interposed, within the car, a white light bulb 17 and two pairsof red stop-indicating signal bulbs 18, a pair being located outside thecar and upon each side of both dashes of the car.

A fuse 18 is preferably interposed in the wire 12 and a fuse 19 islikewise interposed in the wire 10 between the trolley 11 and the pointof connection of the wire 12 with the said wire 10.

From the foregoing description and the drawing, it will be evident thatupon the admission of any air under pressure into the brake cylinder 1,the signal lights 18 will be visible to the drivers of any oncoming andfollowing automobiles, as they are located at both ends of the car, andtherefore upon operation of the control lever 2 at either end of thecar, to supply air to the brake cylinder 1, the circuits will be closedthrough the signal lights 17 and 18.

The purpose of the switch 9 is to permit of the current from the trolleybeing out 01f from the system, and the valve 7 is for the purpose ofcutting olf the supply of current to the compressed air regulator 5.

What I claim is 1. A signal apparatus for electric railway carscomprising, in combination with the air brake cylinder, of the car andthe hand lever for controlling the supply of air to the brake cylinder,an electric light signal, and a source of current supply in circuittherewith, and a pressure regulator in communication with the 5 said airbrake cylinder and embodying the usual switch in circuit with the signaland controlled by the pressure of air delivered to the brake cylinder,whereby to effect closing of the circuit through the signal upon operau,tiOn of the hand lever to effect admission of air to the air brakecylinder.

2. A signal apparatus for electric railway cars comprising, incombination with the air brake cylinder, of the car and the hand lever 15 for controlling the supply of air to the brake cylinder, electriclight warning signals to be arranged at the opposite ends of the car,and a source of current supply in circuit therewith, and a pressureregulator in communim cation with the said air brake cylinder andembodying the usual switch in circuit with the signals and controlled bythe pressure of air delivered to the brake cylinder, whereby to effectclosing of the circuit through the in signals upon operation of the handlever to e ect admission of air to the air brake cylinder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ASHLEY Gr. HALE.

